Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP)
🏛 Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for nonprofit organizations and faith-based groups that develop affordable homeownership opportunities through self-help and sweat equity programs.
Eligible applicants include national nonprofits, regional nonprofits (spanning at least 2 states), or consortia of nonprofits across at least 2 states. Organizations must carry out self-help homeownership activities directly or fund affiliates doing so.
The program operates nationwide. Applicants must use grant funds across at least two states and serve low-income homebuyers, including veterans, first responders, homeless persons, and people with disabilities.
SHOP funds cover land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, and planning/administration costs (capped at 10%). Organizations must leverage other funds for construction and rehabilitation costs.
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Program description
This NOFO solicits applications for the Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP). This grant awards funds to eligible national and regional nonprofit organizations and consortia to purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs. The SHOP program is a tool to promote the production of affordable housing for low-income persons and families, including first-responders, veterans, and persons with disabilities, while fostering safe, stable neighborhoods in communities nationwide.The SHOP grant program provides competitive awards to national and regional nonprofit organizations and consortia to purchase home sites and develop or improve the infrastructure needed to set the stage for sweat equity and volunteer-based homeownership programs and to promote the production of affordable housing for low-income persons and families, including veterans, homeless persons , first responders, and persons with disabilities . The SHOP units must:Be sold to homebuyers at below market prices;Homebuyers must be low-income and contribute a significant amount of sweat equity towards the development of their SHOP home; andSHOP homes must be non-luxury units that comply with state and local codes, ordinances, and zoning requirements, and with all other SHOP requirements.Applicants must also:Propose to use a significant amount of SHOP grant funds in at least two states.Use the SHOP grant funds for only land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, and reasonable and necessary planning and administration costs (not to exceed 10 percent).The average SHOP expense for the combined cost of land acquisition and infrastructure improvements cannot exceed $25,000 per SHOP unit.Applicants must leverage other public and private funds to pay for the construction or rehabilitation costs of every SHOP unit.Leveraged funds may also be used for other program costs not covered by SHOP grant funds.All communications between HUD, SHOP applicants, SHOP awardees, and SHOP beneficiaries must be in English. The application must be received through Grants.gov in English.This NOFO makes available $24,000,000 ($12,000,000 in FY2025 and $12,000,000 in FY2024) to carry out eligible activities of the SHOP program.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative describing self-help homeownership strategy and multi-state implementation plan
- Budget and budget narrative with detailed land, infrastructure, and leveraged funding breakdown
- Documentation of organizational capacity and track record
- Letters of commitment or agreements from consortium members (if applicable)
- Leverage commitment letters from construction funding sources
- Evidence of nonprofit status (501(c)(3) determination or equivalent)
Program contact
- 👤 Department of Housing and Urban Development
- 📧 RHED@hud.gov
- 📞 202-402-2440
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 14.247 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$5,851,767
-
$5,250,000
-
$4,750,000
-
$4,000,000
-
$3,500,000
-
$2,942,228
-
$2,500,000
-
$2,137,233
-
$2,057,772
-
$1,000,000
Top States by Funding
- GA 3 awards $12.7M
- WA 2 awards $8.8M
- DC 2 awards $6.5M
- NM 2 awards $3.1M
- CO 1 awards $2.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 14.247). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $26,000,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $28,010,400 |
FAQ
Who can apply for SHOP funding?
National and regional nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and consortia of nonprofits can apply. Regional organizations must serve at least two states; states do not need to be contiguous.
What can SHOP grant funds pay for?
Funds cover land acquisition, infrastructure improvements, and planning/administration (maximum 10% of award). Construction and rehabilitation must be funded through leveraged sources.
What geographic scope does this grant cover?
SHOP operates nationwide. Applicants must use grant funds in at least two states, but states need not be adjacent or geographically contiguous.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing match is required. However, applicants must leverage other public and private funds to cover construction and rehabilitation costs for every unit.
What are the key program requirements?
SHOP homes must be sold at below-market prices to low-income homebuyers. Homebuyers contribute significant sweat equity. Average land and infrastructure costs cannot exceed $25,000 per unit.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus on your existing track record with self-help homeownership programs. HUD prioritizes proven implementation experience and successful affiliate networks.
- Plan multi-state operations carefully. Clearly explain how you'll manage activities across at least two states and coordinate with regional partners or affiliates.
- Budget strategically for land and infrastructure. Keep combined acquisition and infrastructure costs well below the $25,000 per-unit ceiling to maximize units produced.
- Document your leverage sources upfront. Identify specific construction funding partners and financing mechanisms before submitting your application.
- Build a strong consortium if needed. If applying as a consortium, ensure all members are legally bound by a written agreement and roles are clearly defined.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without a clear multi-state strategy; failing to identify leveraged funding sources for construction. Underestimating the complexity of managing regional programs or consortia partnerships. Exceeding the 10% administration cost cap or the $25,000 average cost per unit threshold.
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